"It's a wonderful feeling that year after year the people of our area support our students like they do,” Travis said. “Without them many of our students wouldn’t be able to go to college.”
More than 340 people attended the live and silent auctions in the River Ballrooms of the Julian Carroll Convention Center September 19, with proceeds going directly to the WKCTC general scholarship fund.
WKCTC student Lilly Kaler, a McCracken County mother of two, described to the auction audience her journey from a young girl born in Turkey without much hope of ever having a career to now a married WKCTC health science technology student who dreams of becoming a nurse. “Having come to the USA ten years ago, and now a citizen, I know the value of education and am thankful for this scholarship opportunity,” she told Thursday’s audience. “I know I can reach my dreams and it’s because of you.”
WKCTC boasts an extensive scholarship program offering more than $400,000 in awards for the 2013-2014 academic year, said Becky Haus, manager of advancement and the WKCTC scholarship program. “Our scholarship program consists of donor endowments, annual scholarships and merit scholarships. Funds raised at the scholarship auction help fund our merit-based program providing awards to academically deserving students in the region,” Haus said.
While the college offers a wide variety of funding, the need is always greater than available funds. This year the college received a record 951 applications for scholarship funding, a 20% increase from the previous year.
“The value of a college education has never been greater,” Haus said. “It is because of the continued generosity of our supporters that we are able to help area students earn their credentials and enter the workforce.”
Donations are still being accepted for the scholarship fund and can be mailed to Paducah Junior College, Inc., P.O. Box 7380, Paducah, KY 42002-7380.